i think the word gay has crossed in to the same realm that retard has where its become a funny substitution for stupid or inconsequential i personally dont find those words offensive but i make an effort not to use them because others do faggot still stings a bit i also dont think just because a minority group uses a derogatory epithet in an empowering way makes it ok the problem arent the words or the targets its the mentality of the person using the word